(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Modern Languages Translation, Interpreting and Cultural Mediation (Including Foundation Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
BA Q912
01/06/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
UK and EU applicants:
All applications for degree courses with a foundation year (Year Zero) will be considered individually, whether you
- think you might not have the grades to enter the first year of a degree course;
- have non-traditional qualifications or experience (e.g. you haven’t studied A-levels or a BTEC);
- are returning to university after some time away from education; or
- are looking for more support during the transition into university study.
Standard offer:
Our standard offer is 72 UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels, or equivalent.
Examples of the above tariff may include:
- A-levels: DDD
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMP
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
To study Portuguese as your major language, you need an A-level pass (or equivalent) in Italian, French, Spanish or Portuguese or fluency in Italian, French, Romanian or Spanish.
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria, please get in touch for advice.
Mature applicants and non-traditional academic backgrounds:
We welcome applications from mature students (over 21) and students with non-traditional academic backgrounds (might not have gone on from school to take level 3 qualifications). We will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference, to gain a rounded view of your suitability for the course.
International applicants:
Essex Pathways Department is unable to accept applications from international students. Foundation pathways for international students are available at the University of Essex International College and are delivered and awarded by Kaplan, in partnership with the University of Essex. Successful completion will enable you to progress to the relevant degree course at the University of Essex.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall. Specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
Our Year 0 courses are only open to UK and EU applicants. If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to your chosen degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- This course will enable students to become proficient in two modern languages and develop (audio-visual) translation and interpreting skills. They will also develop an appropriate level of fluency and accuracy in using the languages as a medium of understanding expression and communication (both oral and written), with knowledge of stylistic and sociolinguistic variation.
- Students will develop intercultural competence and the ability to mediate across the languages and cultures they are studying.
- Students will acquire knowledge, understanding and skills in another field (depending on the options chosen).
- Students will be equipped with a range of transferable cognitive, practical and key skills, and the course will also provide a foundation for further study in the field of translation, interpreting and subtitling.
This will place them in an excellent position to use their skills for employment and lifelong learning.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Phonology, morphology, syntax, lexis, usage, and socio-stylistic variation in the chosen modern language(s).
A2: Aspects of the culture and society of one or more countries which use the chosen modern language(s) as a medium of communication, drawing comparisons with their own culture and observing contrasts.
A3: Techniques of translation, interpreting, subtitling and cultural mediation.
A4: Linguistic concepts and metalanguage used to describe and analyse the chosen modern language(s), and analytic methods and techniques used to analyse texts and other authentic modern language materials from a variety of perspectives.
Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the social and political issues that have influenced the development of Latin America.
Learning methods
A1. Modern Language proficiency is developed through classwork, homework, use of dedicated software and Web materials, translating texts of various types and interpreting live and recorded speeches.
A2. Cultural awareness is developed through class and web materials. Students experience, engage with and integrate into another culture, either by a period of study at a partner institution offering the opportunity to operate in a different academic, linguistic and cultural environment, or by working and thereby acquiring valuable vocational experience of working abroad.
A3. Translation skills will be developed by practical work of translations of different text types and genres with the aim of developing awareness of different translation strategies and approaches.
Audio-visual translation and subtitling techniques will be acquired through the use of a professional software in practical lab classes.
Interpreting and mediation skills will be acquired through interpreting live and videorecorded speeches as well as well through the practice of interpreting dialogues in a range of intercultural and professional settings.
A4. Skills of linguistic analysis are developed through study of authentic (textual, or video, or film, or aural) materials in class.
Assessment methods
A1-A4 Continuous coursework, essays, quizzes, oral tests, presentations and practical projects.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Abstract and synthesise information from authentic written and spoken language materials.
Using discipline-based training to think cricially and analytically in relation to a number of different academic disciplines related to Latin America
B2: Decode contextual information, expressed in written form, and translate it faithfully and appropriately.
B3: Decode speech including idioms and prosodic features and convey the content in the target language/culture appropriately.
B4: Mediate, negotiate, and apply the correct strategies for appropriate communication.
Learning methods
Methods employed to develop cognitive skills on Modern Languages courses typically include: group discussion of topical themes and analysis of authentic (textual, or video, or film, or aural) materials in class; laboratory work involving use of dedicated software and Web materials; research projects, finding sources of information and critically evaluating them; self-reflection tasks; support and feedback from staff face-to-face and via email.
Assessment methods
Methods of assessments on modules typically include: role-play activities; class presentations; oral exams; written coursework, e.g. essays, book reports.
C: Practical skills
C1: Organise and present (orally and in writing) ideas and materials in the specialist languages.
C2: Gather and process information from different sources, e.g. doing a bibliographic search in the library, accessing material from online databases and locating and downloading appropriate foreign language materials from the Web
C3: Practical translation work, interpreting speeches and dialogues in consecutive mode, subtitling audio-visual material.
Learning methods
Methods employed to develop practical skills typically include: group discussion of topical themes and analysis, translation and subtitling of authentic (textual, or video, or film, or aural) materials in class; laboratory work involving use of dedicated software and Web materials; research projects, finding sources of information and critically evaluating them; self-reflection tasks; support and feedback from staff face-to-face and via email.
Assessment methods
Translations, interpreting tests, subtitling project work; unseen written exams; class tests; online assignments; dissertation.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicating ideas, information and arguments in oral and written form in English and in the specialist languages, with a level of fluency, accuracy, clarity and effectiveness (and sensitivity to register and style) which depends on the level of the modules taken.
D2: IT skills which can include digital media and digital technologies, bibliographic searches, locating and downloading foreign language digital materials, and utilising editing and subtitling software packages as well as translation software to improve language competence and support professional skills.
D3: Analysing texts and audio-visual materials, identifying translation challenges and creatively discussing solutions.
D4: Collaborate with others to work creatively and flexibly as part of a team
D5: Working autonomously showing organisation, self-discipline and time management
D6: Developing critical decision-making skills to become intercultural mediators.
Learning methods
Methods employed to develop key skills typically include: group discussion of topical themes and analysis, translation and subtitling of authentic (textual, or video, or film, or aural) materials in class; laboratory work involving use of dedicated software and Web materials; research projects, finding sources of information and critically evaluating them; self-reflection tasks; support and feedback from staff face-to-face and via email.
Assessment methods
Methods employed to assess key skills typically include: role-play activities; class presentations, in some cases using Powerpoint; oral exams; written coursework, e.g. Essays, book reports, translations, interpreting, subtitling project work; unseen written exams; class tests; online assignments; dissertation.